Russia cancels decision on use of Russian forces in Ukraine

MOSCOW (QHA) -

The Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) has canceled at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin the decision to use the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. Andrei Klimov, deputy head of the Federation Council's international affairs committee, told Interfax on Tuesday.

The senators gave permission for the use of the Russian army on the territory of Ukraine on March 1, 2014.

"The decision was made due to a threat to the life of Russian citizens on the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol, and the president asked us to allow the use of our Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine until the socio-political situation in that country normalized," Klimov said.

Klimov believes today's address by the president is due to the fact that the period of normalization has begun in Ukraine.

"Presidential elections have been held there and negotiations on the halt of military action involving Russian officials, representatives of the Kyiv administration, and the leaders of the southeastern regions of Ukraine have begun. For this reason, President Vladimir Putin has made this decision, and we support him in that," Klimov said.